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Nowitzki gets listed among all-time greats
Source: Agencies |
June 14, 2011, Tuesday
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GERMAN Dirk Nowitzki was hailed as one of the all-time greats after he crowned his 13 years in the National Basketball Association with a first championship ring following the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 series win over the Miami Heat.
Named Most Valuable Player of the finals, Nowitzki's outstanding performances throughout the playoffs, with six 30-plus scoring games, were crucial to Dallas' success as it gained revenge for its loss to Miami in the 2006 season.
"Dirk Nowitzki is simply one of the all-time greats. And he was when we played him in 2006," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "His game has continued to elevate in his 30s. That's a remarkable thing. I think that's a great lesson for NBA players."
Nowitzki's coach Rick Carlisle said he was sure that this season had established the German as one of the best ever in the league. "I don't think there's any doubt after this series that Dirk has certainly earned the clout of being one of the all-time great players."
Nowitzki averaged 26.0 points per game in the finals and was incredibly accurate from the free-throw line, missing just one of 44 attempts to banish memories of the loss to Miami five years ago and finally win a ring.
"This is what I obviously played for the last couple of years," Nowitzki said.
Five years ago, Miami's Dwyane Wade said it was Nowitzki's lack of leadership that had cost his team, but on Sunday he was full of praise for the man from Wuerzburg.
"I think he's played awesome. Obviously Dirk, five years ago, it burned in him. He learned from that experience. Even though he was 1 for 12 in the first half, he came out and made big shots for his team. He kept being aggressive, he kept shooting.
"So there's no question he's been a great individual player and now that he's a champion, it goes without saying, what it means for his career."
Named Most Valuable Player of the finals, Nowitzki's outstanding performances throughout the playoffs, with six 30-plus scoring games, were crucial to Dallas' success as it gained revenge for its loss to Miami in the 2006 season.
"Dirk Nowitzki is simply one of the all-time greats. And he was when we played him in 2006," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "His game has continued to elevate in his 30s. That's a remarkable thing. I think that's a great lesson for NBA players."
Nowitzki's coach Rick Carlisle said he was sure that this season had established the German as one of the best ever in the league. "I don't think there's any doubt after this series that Dirk has certainly earned the clout of being one of the all-time great players."
Nowitzki averaged 26.0 points per game in the finals and was incredibly accurate from the free-throw line, missing just one of 44 attempts to banish memories of the loss to Miami five years ago and finally win a ring.
"This is what I obviously played for the last couple of years," Nowitzki said.
Five years ago, Miami's Dwyane Wade said it was Nowitzki's lack of leadership that had cost his team, but on Sunday he was full of praise for the man from Wuerzburg.
"I think he's played awesome. Obviously Dirk, five years ago, it burned in him. He learned from that experience. Even though he was 1 for 12 in the first half, he came out and made big shots for his team. He kept being aggressive, he kept shooting.
"So there's no question he's been a great individual player and now that he's a champion, it goes without saying, what it means for his career."
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